A Gather at last!(OPEN)

[hrsegrl245]

H'nen had practically jumped on the chance to get out of the Weyr. He was lucky he didn't have watch duty tonight or tomorrow night. Not that he minded so much but he would much rather have some time away from the sadness that had become the normal state of the Weyr. He couldn't take all the depression that was going around.

This Gather, he hoped, would pick up some spirits. Betheroth had dropped him near the entrance to the Gather, but a bit off to the side. HE had gone to the fireheights with some other dragons... some greens and one or two blues. The dragon was a flirt to put it mildly.

The wares being sold made little matter to him. He was too preoccupied. Perhaps there would be someone here he could talk to. He had friends whom he enjoyed chatting with but otherwise he was rather quiet. It wasn't that he didn't like company he was just very choosy about who to befriend.

[menta]

Zylaera and Carseith touched down at Inbur Hold. The greenrider removed her helmet and shook out her strawberry blonde locks. She had managed to trade shifts for the night just so that she could have some brief off time to go to the gather. She loved gathers, always had, and she'd never miss any that she had any possibility of coming to. There was always fun to be had and people to meet. Lately there hadn't been an abundance of fun at the Weyr, so this would make a good break.

Alright love, up to the fireheights with you. She said sweetly to her green who promptly rose up into the sky again and off to join the other dragons. If i see any good looking males, i'll let you know. The insatiable green replied. Zy smiled, You do that. She replied and headed out into the crowds to see if she could spot some males of her own.

She wandered through the gather for a bit, greeting old aquaintances and examining the wares, when stopped a bit. She thought she'd seen a familiar face...yes, she had! It was just an older face than she'd remembered. "H'nen!" She called and began making her way to the blue rider whom she'd known several turns ago.

[hrsegrl245]

Another green joined the little group which only pleased Betheroth. Pretty greens and not a lot of competition. He was sure to find one whom he could flirt with. Betheroth greeted the new green Greetings beautiful one. Please join us over here.The blue waited before adding, It will be an honor to sun near someone as radiant as yourself.

H'nen was paying his dragon no mind, though he got the feeling the blue had seen someone he liked. That would probably mean a flight at some point for H'nen. Sometimes he felt so akward after them he wasn't even sure he enjoyed it. Especially if the rider was male. He did have trouble getting past his preference for women. He didn't stop Betheroth from flying them. When the dragon was sexually appeased he paid more attention during drills. A fact that may seem odd to some but H'nen, who was just coming out of his teenage years perfectly understood.

Deep in his own thoughts, H'nen kept walking even after hearing his name called. It took him a moment to process before he realized someone was trying to get his attention. Stopping suddenly, he nearly was tripped over by the person walking behind him. "My apologies..." He nodded then, looked around to find where the voice had come from. It took but a moment. H'nen had always had an attraction for the strawberry blonde. Under his breath he said, "Zylaera?" His expression was quizzical though he knew very well who it was. Of course he expected to run into her one day. Now that she had found him, he wasn't sure what to say. Even as he thought about it he began to walk towards her.

[menta]

Carseith flicked her tail towards the welcoming blue and settled down next to him. Ah, a fellow flirt, this should be fun. You are too kind with your thoughts. I've always thought blues much more eloquent than there fellow males. She complimeted the young dragon. I don't recall seeing you around Lateo, you are from Sodalis then? She asked in her light, giggly mindvoice.

The green's rider smiled raidantly and flipped her hair back as her old friend recognized her. She walked towards the now bluerider and embrassed him as she naturally would. When she released him she just looked at him for a moment. "It's been much too long?" She asked in the same enchanting peal she'd always used. "So I heard your a rider now, H'nen." It really had been too long, since she'd become a Weyrling at Lateo, and then he at Sodalis.

Listening offhandly to the conversation her green was having with a blue, it reminded her of the unabashed flirtations that used to occur between herself and the man in front of her - for he was a man now, no longer that too tall boy she remembered.

[hrsegrl245]

Pride entered into the blue's demeanor. He was indeed better than many other males, even other blues if one wre to ask him his opinion. He was hoping to become a Search dragon and not be stuck at the Weyr so much. Here was a good reason why.I hatched at Sodalis.He was correct in assuming she meant she was from Lateo. He had never shown so much interest in a green from another Weyr. Knowing it was likely she was off limits. (His rider might well want to flame him for this.) I am called Betheroth. You are? He wanted to tell his rider about this delightful green and he would need a name to do so.

H'nen had his own thoughts to take care of. He wasn't paying close attention to his dragon's flirtations. The young man wasn't a dimglow and knew his dragon would have found some green worth engaging in conversation with. Mostly he was confused at the moment. H'nen could be shy with some women but not generally ones he had talked to previously. After flights he was usually very shy.

He found himself being hugged before he knew it. Then when she withdrew he smiled. "It has been a while. Not long enough to forget you." He answered her question. H'nen couldn't forget a friend who he cherished so much. If Rylene were here it would seem like old times, even if she had been the third wheel at times, he considered her another good friend he had not kept in contact with.

"I impressed the first clutch I stood for at Sodalis. So I've been a rider for six turns, almost as long as you." He winked, making her sound so much older than he was. The nineteen turn old was still young to be riding for six turns already. "Betheroth, my blue, may have an aptitude for Search, so I may become Searchrider sometime in the near future. But I am enjoying having a dragon. How are you enjoying life at Lateo?"

[menta]

The green nodded her head slightly, agknowledging that the dragon was from another Weyr. Oh well, that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun. I am Carseith. So how fare's things at Sodalis? She asked, a hint of cheek in her small talk. She was known to toy with the males who caught her eye, but she had a feeling this blue was in for the games as well.

Mine, the green spoke to her rider, Do you know of the rider, of blue Betheroth, a most intriguing blue. Zy smiled to herself. 'Of course,' she thought. I do actually. The young woman replied. She looked up at H'nen. It figured that their dragons would hit it off so well. She decided for now to let H'nen figure out for himself, with whose dragons his own lifemate was chatting to.

"Or you," She replied. She really hadn't forgotten him. He was one of the few people she'd ever had a meaningful connection and friendship with. Few had lived up to him since he had left 6 turns ago.

"Well both me and mine are still your elders, so you better have respect." She teased, like old times. She nodded, Betheroth beign a searchrider might mean that H'nen could come visit more at Lateo. "I love it," She replied quite honestly. Lateo had always been her home and she couldn't imagine anywhere else. "I'm in the Wingleader's wing now, and Carseith is fast and quick, so i think we do quite well. But it would all be much more fun if you were there of course." She said with a twinkle in her eye, although she was in fact quite earnest.

[prissy]

Buddy go ahead and hover over the ground I'll hop off and you can go to the heights. R'daur told his brown as they neared the gather grounds.

Yes Mine. Lheth replied as he got near the ground, his undid the straps and slid off his dragons neck. He didn't see anyone he knew but he did see, H'nen who he had heard about, the man appeared to be a bluerider.

R'daur walked on into the grounds and was getting ready to enjoy the gather. He hoped that he would find a drudge who would be willing to share his bed.

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Carseith. He thought over her name until he decided it was pretty. Mostly everyone's been sad. My rider has been a bit low too but not so bad as those others. He says its got to do with that Muneo tragedy...or something like that...The dragon found it all boring and hated to waste such a lovely dragon's time on such topics. Things will be better. Especially now that I've met you...

The bluerider was unaware of what was going on but he had the feeling there was something that Zylaera knew and he did not. He wasn't going to find out from his dragon either, since the blue was completely ignoring him. He listened to her as he was still a good listener. At her last statement he grinned. "Well, perhaps you will be seeing more of me. That ought to make things interesting. Besides I've been meaning to visit Lateo. My sister has wished to see me...says its a suprise. I don't think its going to be good." He had a feeling she was either mated or pregnant, neither of which he wanted his younger sister to be.

"So. You don't have a weyrmate or anything that I should be worried about? I can't very well spend the whole Gather with you, as I intend to, if theres some man wanting to beat me up around the corner with just cause." He made light of the question but he was very curious as to whether she had settled with anyone.

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Morelia arrived on the Gather Grounds quite some time ago. She was looking at various wares and wondering if she had brought enough marks with her to buy some things. Morelia wasn't a big shopper, sometimes she would buy something or other but it was usually not for herself. As she finished looking over some beautiful jewelry, she saw R'daur. The master dragonhealer at Sodalis. Her daughter said he was helping train her, and giving her special lessons. That girl, was in such a hurry to get things done, Morelia wondered if she was missing out on an important part of being a child.

Since she was waiting for L'kel to join her and R'daur seemed to be alone the greenrider decided to gho over and strike up some conversation with him. "Hello R'daur." She smiled, as she walked over. Her eyes were warm though as a friends would be. There may be some in the Weyr who remembered Morelia when she was single. She had to admit she much preferred being mated to someone. Knowing that someone was always there. She moved her hand out toward him in greeting, "I'm Morelia, of green Naraleth. My daughter is an apprenticed Dragonhealer at Sodalis."

[menta]

Carseith knew what Betheroth was speaking about. Everyone had been terribly sad. She and her rider and mourned and paid respect when it first occured, but they were not the type to settle into any kind of depressing mood. They always bounced back, because there were always ways to have fun. People sitting around being sad never seemed to help anyhting. Yes, it is that way at Lateo also. She replied But i try not to dwell. Not when there is so much life to be living. She flicked her tail playfully against the blue's side.

Zy nodded and smiled at his word choice, "Yes, interesting indeed," She replied. Spending time with her was always...interesting. "Well when you visit i insist you come by my weyr," she replied with more than just the politness of a gracious host.

The greenrider laughed. "Weyrmate, me?" She bit her lip and looked at the ground, grinning. Wouldn't that be funny...her, with one person. "Not in the slightest. I'm much too young to settle yet." She looked at H'nen, "And you? Do you have a pretty young girl here at Sodalis? You do know there's nothing more dangerous than a woman scorned, eh?" She asked, though she doubted her did. She didn't figure him for the type to even flirt if there was someone else in the picture. He was much to good a person, unlike her.

[prissy]

"Hello Morelia, your daughter is Berelia correct?" R'daur only remembered the girl because she was so quick to learn her lessons. He enjoyed having such a bright pupil, not many were that quick at her age.

Greetings, Naraleth. Lheth greeted the green as he touched down on a spot near her. He hoped that His would not take forever.

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Betheroth was thoroughly pleased with himself. He had found the lovliest green at the Gather and she was flirting with him. Containing his pride, he remarked to his rider, I found the most beautiful green. You've said that before...I mean it, this time. I bet you do. Next time too. We just had a flight two weeks ago...I don't recall...Not that it matters.You are insatiable aren't you?The blue didn't answer turning his attention back to someone worthy of it.

Eyes whirling blue, Betheroth moved a little closer to the green. Not just because he wanted to but because he didn't want the other males to get any ideas. The living in the present is more fun than thinking of the past. He agreed with her. They had a similair philosophy but many greens and blues would agree on that.

H'nen did everything he could to stay cool. He knew what she meant when she said things that way. It made him wonder, which was both good and bad. "I wouldn't pass you by if I visited, rest assured."He would search high and low for her weyr if he had to. Admittedly, he was relieved that she had no mate nor even a mentionable guy. "Well I'm sure its not from lack of interested men." He grinned. H'nen wasn't stupid, greens mated and often. Zy was probably enjoying that part of dragonriding just as much as the rest of it.

When she asked him a similair question it didn't take long for a slight blush to grace his face. "Well, not presently...some women do get clingy, don't they?" The question was rhetorical. He just found that certain women didn't like that whole one flight and gone thing, which was what he was comfortable with at his grown age of nineteen. "I have not had the displeasure of dealing with that side of women. I've given none a reason to as of yet." Personally he wasn't sure why men liked having multiple partners just for the sake of having them while women used them to determine who they wanted as a mate.

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"Yes. She is doing well I heard. I mean, thats what she said. Personally I know very little about the craft." She hoped Berelia was doing well and it wasn't just something she had said to get off the topic. At least Bera hadn't been forced into a craft, unlike herself. "My mother wanted me to be a weaver." She grinned. Morelia and weaving definately didn't seem to go together. The greenrider was completely enamoured of dragonriding. It was her life and passion which was why she was so good at it.

Good afternoon Lheth. The green was waiting for her Bronze mate but certainly didn't mind the company of Lheth. Nice spot to sun in.

[menta]

Carseith smiled inwardly. What a charming blue he was, she enjoyed talking with him. You speak wisely. She liked that they thought the same. She tossed her delicate green head in the air and a mischevious glint was awakened in her eye. Want to race. She asked. She was a fast green and could beat most blues as she was made for speed, but she always liked to test them. Sometimes she let them win, and some of them could actually defeat her. It was always an interesting challenge, she wondered how this blue would measure up

Zylaera hoped she was making H'nen uncomftorable, she liked doing that. "Good, because i wouldn't allow it." She said with certainty. "Well, i'm not all that lonely" She said devileshly. Making guys jealous was another of her games. And it wasn't even completely true, she could be with a guy and still be completely alone.

She nodded, "Well unlike you I have dealt with my share of pissed off girlfriends. Avoid them," She leaned in when sharing her valuable advice and just brushed her hand on his shoulder. "But you're right, you wouldn't give women much of a reason would you? You're too much of a good gentlman."

[prissy]

"She is doing well enough, I have never had a brighter pupil, of course I'm still getting accustomed to teaching. I never taught a youngster before Berelia." R'daur told the woman as he watched her face he knew that if she didn't show any worries then Berelia was happy where she is.

Yes it is, Lheth was keeping a fair distance because it seemed that this green had a mate. He would not want to cause trouble for the lovely green or get himself into trouble.

[hrsegrl245]

The dragon wasn't sure what she was getting at but figured he wouldn't mind doing pretty much anything with the green. You are faster than I. Lets make it a good distance...He wanted to get a little bit more of an eveness in their talents. He wasn't particularly special when it came to flying. Searching he was good at. People liked him and he liked them too.

He knew she was bound to have many lovers but the woman statement nearly made him laugh. His eyes belied his emotions. "I'll do my best. No reason for me to try to piss anyone off." Her hand touched his shoulder and he wondered if he might be getting in too deep. It would be better for him not to get involved with her in the way he wanted to. He was only nineteen and had no real idea of what women wanted.

She had an old vision of him. H'nen wasn't much of a gentleman lately. In fact he was pretty sure there were a couple of women who felt used. That was what they had wanted, at least he thought so. In any case he was going to let Zylaera believe he was innocent of any transgressions. As far as women were concerned, H'nen was still learning the emotional stuff. Physical attraction was easy to sate. Betheroth made sure of that. That made him wonder what his blue companion was really up to.


-----

Morelia was not completely suprised by his statements. As a mother it was nice to know that her daughter was excelling. "That is wonderful to hear. She is a very driven girl. I don't really know where she gets it but I always thought she would do well in whatever area she chose." Her mother was only slightly proud. Okay maybe a lot more proud than she should be. She had only raised the girl for a short time though unlike many in the Weyr had kept tabs on her and took her to the Lake with her dragon.

"I'm sure you know better how to teach her than anyone. She has been so excited about training under you." One would expect that. He was the Master Dragonhealer of Sodalis Weyr. That was a pretty big deal. L'kel would be thrilled to hear about how well Bera was doing. He loved the girl like his own. Morelia glanced briefly at the vendors around her, moving her hand to her forehead to block the sun from her eyes. "Are you shopping for anything in particular?" She had been by many of the booths already and knew where most everything was located or at least could point him in the correct direction.

[menta]

Carseith lifted herself into the air with a few wingbeats. Her whirling eyes scanned the skies. She transferred to Betheroth a mental picture of one of hte mountains in the distance. To that peak and back should be fair? She asked. She didn't do that well with distance, so she'd have to conserve her speed. Hoepfully a dash in the back stretch would be enough to let her wing. She flicked her tail in the air, signalling the charming blue to join her.

Zy smiled, maybe he was just as she'd remembered him, "Good lad," She responded. She, herself hadn't changed all that much, just had a few turns to get out there and start messing around. She rarely even tried to search for an emotional attatchment, physical was just fine for her...most of the time.

"So H'nen, now that we've finished with the polite conversation, how about you buying me a bubbly pie?" She asked with an arch in her brow.